Public appeal against the opening and mining of the sand and gravel quarry in Sant'Emilia's vicinity

The department of Tuscany, the province of Pisa and the District of Pomarance recently approved the "Quarry Plan", wich pinpoints the locations viable of extractions of sands, gabbro and gravel in the District's area. This plan it's going to have a devastating effect on our territory. The whole administrative process, wich resulted in the approval by the District on 19/4/2013 was basically carried out behind the community's back. Comunication to the citizens was formally held in the correct way, but in a totally inadeqaute one from a substantial point of view. So much so that even those that own proprerties on the borders of the mining locations, weren't directly informed of what was being decided, and found out about the problem only when they saw excavators sounding the terrain.

The area interested by the "Quarry Plan" it's placed in the heart of Cecina's Valley, between the natural reserves of Berignone and Monterufoli-Caselli: an hill country of rare beauty. The Sant'Emilia quarry in particular, would be excavated on the treshold of Berignone's Natural Park with a consequent negative impact on wildlife.

Too often it happens that in the name of private interests the communal heritage is called into question. Too often legal safeguards relative to enviromentally protective restrictions are beign ignored. Too often we remain still in front of the administrations' decisions, that see the public territory as a combinations of lots to be sold and gain profit from.

Precisely in an historical and economical predicament, when the italian enviromental heritage is a resource for tourism, administrations shouldn't commit the mistake of depreciating such a precious good.

We are a group of citizen indignant, preoccupied and, at least some of us, directly damaged by the project of the quarry in Sant'Emilia's location. The quarry expected in this area it's going to be enormous and it's impact on the land surrounding terrible because of noise, dust, lorry's movements, devastation of woods and the crater excavated. For this reasons, we are organizing an appeal to the Administrative Court of Tuscany to oppose the project.

We ask you therefore to join our cause and sign this petition, so as safeguarding the natural heritage, and to sentisise the public opinion before it's too late.

If you want further informations please contact us. You can find all the info (in italian) on the "Quarry Plan" and, specifically, on the quarry in Sant'Emilia's vicinity at this link. The first document contains sheets about all the locations, with maps and pictures. Within those you can also find Sant'Emilia.

A few days ago, the project of exploitation of the quarry in Sant'Emilia (also in italian) was presented to the district of Pomarance, and can be found at this link.